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1840-1865
Definition of Dark Romanticism
A phenomenon or a literary and
historical movement, wherein authors
and poets revolted against the classical
ways of writing and expression
Background
Many historians and experts believe that the
reason this genre sprung to fame was because of
a reaction to a society that was fast becoming
industrialized and mechanical.
Authors often preferred writing tales of horror
and terror.
They reveled in describing the tragedies that
often befell human lives.
Background
Most authors who wrote in this style had a tendency to write about
subjects that were not only gloomy and morose, but had elements of the
morbid and grotesque.
Dark Romanticism is widely considered to be one of the most popular
subgenres of American literature due to the degree of illogical elements
that so seamlessly blended into the genre.
While the characteristics of romanticism will tell you more about the
belief that real life was quite dreary in comparison to imagination, Dark
Romanticism characteristics suggest that authors believed otherwise.
They believed that human beings were equally capable of evil and good.
While Romantics tried to ignore the evil and sociopathic behavior of
man, the Dark Romantics took it as a duty to remind the world of the
evil doings of man.
Characteristics of Dark Romanticism
Supernatural
Sin
Guilt
Suspense
Evil
Madness